You can change your village scenery from the settings menu without losing your base layout

Clash of Clans lets you swap the visual theme of your village — the trees, buildings, ground texture, and sky — without affecting your actual defenses or troop placement. The scenery option is in your in-game settings, and most sceneries cost gems, the premium currency. Some sceneries are seasonal and rotate out, while others stay permanently available.

The process takes about 30 seconds and you can change back to a different scenery anytime. Your village layout, troops, resources, and progress stay exactly the same no matter which scenery you pick. Once you own a scenery, switching between ones you have bought costs nothing.

Key Takeaways

  • Open settings from the gear icon in the top right corner of your village screen, then tap the scenery option to see all available themes.
  • Most sceneries cost between 500 and 1,500 gems, though some limited-time seasonal sceneries may cost more.
  • Changing scenery does not affect your base layout, defenses, troops, resources, or any game progress.
  • You can switch between sceneries you have already bought as many times as you want without spending gems again.
  • Seasonal sceneries rotate out of the store but return the following year if you want to buy them then.

Opening the settings menu and finding scenery options

Start from your main village screen. In the top right corner, you will see a gear icon — tap that to open your settings menu. Scroll down through the options until you find "Scenery" listed among the customization choices.

When you tap Scenery, the game shows you a grid of all available themes. Sceneries you already own appear with a checkmark and say "Owned" underneath. Sceneries you do not own show their gem cost. Some sceneries also display a "New" label if they were just added to the game, making it straightforward to spot recently released themes.

Understanding gem costs and seasonal sceneries

Most permanent sceneries cost between 500 and 1,500 gems depending on how detailed or popular they are. Seasonal sceneries — released for holidays like Halloween, Christmas, or summer — often cost more, sometimes 2,000 gems or higher, because they are only available for a limited time. The game displays the cost clearly on each scenery tile so you know what you are spending before you commit.

Once you buy a scenery, you own it permanently. You can switch to it and away from it as many times as you want without spending gems again. If a seasonal scenery leaves the store, you keep it if you bought it, but you cannot buy it again until it returns the following year. This means seasonal sceneries are worth buying if you like them, since you will have access to them year after year.

Selecting and explore a new scenery

Tap the scenery you want to preview. The game shows you a full view of what your village will look like with that theme applied. You can rotate the view and zoom in and out to see how the scenery changes the appearance of your buildings and surroundings. This preview is helpful because some sceneries change the color of your defenses or add decorative elements that might not be obvious from the thumbnail.

If you like what you see and you have enough gems, tap the "Buy" or "explore" button. If you already own the scenery, the button says "explore" and costs nothing. The change happens when ready — your village switches to the new scenery right away, and you will see the updated look the next time you load your village screen.

Switching between sceneries you already own

You do not have to spend gems to change sceneries once you own them. Go back to settings, tap Scenery, and select any scenery marked "Owned." Preview it, then tap explore. Your village switches to that theme when ready without any cost.

Many players rotate between sceneries based on mood or season. There is no penalty for switching often, and your base layout never changes no matter which scenery you are using. Some players keep a winter scenery active during cold months and switch to a summer theme when the weather warms up, purely for the visual experience.

What stays the same when you change scenery

Changing scenery is purely visual. Your defenses stay in the same spots, your troops remain in your army camps, your resources do not move, and your Town Hall level does not change. Other players see your village with whatever scenery you have active, but your actual base structure is unchanged.

Scenery also does not affect gameplay — attack difficulty, raid rewards, matchmaking, or anything else. It is only how your village looks to you and to other players visiting it. Your clan mates, attackers, and scouts all see the same base layout and defense strength regardless of which scenery theme you have selected.

Earning gems without spending real money

You earn gems slowly through the game by completing certain achievements and clearing obstacles in your village. Obstacles like trees, rocks, and bushes that spawn randomly on your village map sometimes contain gems when you clear them. The amount is small — usually one to five gems per obstacle — but it adds up over time.

Most players who want multiple sceneries spend real money on gems, but free gems are available if you are patient. Completing achievement tasks also rewards gems, though the amounts are modest. If you play regularly and clear obstacles as they appear, you can save enough gems for a scenery purchase every few months without spending money.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I lose my base layout if I change scenery?

No. Scenery is purely visual and does not touch your base layout, defenses, or any game progress. Your village structure stays exactly the same when you switch themes.

What happens if a seasonal scenery leaves the store?

If you bought it before it left, you keep it permanently and can use it anytime. If you did not buy it, you have to wait until the next year when that season returns to purchase it.

Can other players see which scenery I am using?

Yes. When someone visits your village to scout it or attack it, they see it with whatever scenery you have active. The scenery does not change how your defenses work or how strong your base is.

How often do new sceneries get added to the game?

Supercell, the developer, releases new sceneries regularly — usually monthly for permanent themes and seasonally for limited-time themes. Check the scenery menu often to see what is new.

Can I preview a scenery before I buy it?

Yes. Tap any scenery you do not own and the game shows you a full preview of your village with that theme applied. You can rotate and zoom to see all the details before spending gems.